www.doh.gov.
ph
Graphic health warning
guidelines out
Aim to reduce tobacco use especially among youth
IN JULY 2014, Republic Act No.
10643 or the “Act to Effectively
Instill Health Consciousness
through Graphic Health
Warnings on Tobacco Products”
or the Graphic Health Warnings
Law was signed.
It aims to protect and
promote the right to health of
the people and instill health
consciousness among Filipinos.
The Philippines as a State-
Party to the World Health
Organization’s Framework
Convention on Tobacco
Control is obliged to inform
every person of the health
what’s
inside
consequences of tobacco
consumption and exposure
to tobacco smoke; enact
effective measures to curb and
reduce tobacco use, especially
among the youth, and to
protect public healthy policy
from the commercial and
vested interests of the tobacco
industry.
The Department of Health
issued an administrative order
that contains the Templates
and Guidelines on the use
of templates of the Graphic
Health Warnings (GHWs).
According to DOH, there is
KP advocates in
Central Luzon
EDITORIAL:
Graphic health
commended warnings on
cigarettes
p3
an evident data that death,
disease and disability result
from tobacco consumption
and exposure to tobacco
smoke. In the Philippines, at
least 240 Filipinos die every
day, or approximately 87, 000
per year from tobacco- related
diseases.
Tobacco product and
emission contain numerous
toxic compounds and
over seventy carcinogens,
including carbon monoxide,
arsenic, benzene, butane,
formaldehyde, lead, toluene,
and nicotine, among others.
The GHW shall be printed on
fifty percent of the principal
display surfaces of any
tobaccco products package,
including package inserts and
onserts; it shall occupy fifty
percent of the front and fifty
percent of the back panel of
the packaging. The printing
of the GHW shall be done
without the use of any border,
frame or any other design that
Care for the
displaced in
Strengthening
local health
Mamasapano system in
Cordillera
p4 p6 p8
VOL. 1 ISSUE 11
MARCH 2015
will effectively lessen the size
of the warning.
GHWs aims to clearly and
effectively convey the ill
effects of smoking to one’s
health,
educate the consumers
about these risks, and
motivate current smokers to
stop smoking, and discourage
nonsmokers, especially the
youth , from start smoking.
GHW, along with other
tobacco control interventions
such increasing taxes, will
have a significant public health
impact by decreasing the
number of smokers, more lives
are saved, improved health
status, and lesser medical cost.
2

KP advocates in Central Luzon commended
An occasion to recognize ‘harvest of our toiling’
Trixia M. Ponio - Health Education and Promotion Officer II DOH Region III
AIMING TO recognize the outstanding
performances of, and highlighting the
significant contributions of health and health
related sectors’ stakeholders and champions
toward the attainment of Kalusugan
Pangkalahatan (KP), the Central Luzon
Excellence Awards for Health (CLExAH) 2014
was celebrated last February 18 at the Holiday
Inn Hotel, Clark Field, Pampanga.
Attended by health partners and other
advocates for health, Regional Director (RD)
Leonita P. Gorgolon expressed her salutations
to the awardees and to other attendees.
“I would personally want to thank all of you
here and in the spirit of all our health workers
region-wide. From my staff in the regional
office to the barangay health workers in the
field, my endless gratitude to your untiring
commitment, dedication, and love for work,”
she said.
“Our partnership has been tested from
time to time, but your presence here today is
a good indication of the solidified foundation
we build from our encounters,” she added.
“Today is the harvest of our toiling. Central
Luzon Excellence Awards for Health truly
recognizes the efforts of our partners and
their exemplary performances in delivering
quality health services to the people. Ito ay
selebrasyon at panahon ng pag-aani, oras
ng pasasalamat, at regaling Kagawaran ng
kalusugan sa inyong lahat at sa mga tao ng
ating pinagsisilbihan,” RD Gorgolon told the
audience.
“In our life’s journey, we do not count steps.
We look back on the marks we leave. Thus,
in our public health service, let us leave the
CLExAH mark, the mark of excellence and
sustainability in the spirit of service,” she
stressed.
On the other hand , Department of Health-
Regional Office IV-A CALABARZON (DOH-RO  with Best Sanitation
IV-A) Regional Director Nestor F. Santiago,
Jr. in his inspirational message, emphasized
DOH-RO III’s top notch performance for 2014,
and urged them to be better in 2015.
Proceeding before the conferment of
awards, a keynote was conveyed by Governor
Victor A. Yap of the Province of Tarlac. In his
delivery, he shared some insights on good
governance.
As his main tools for making the Province
of Tarlac truly exceptional, he emphasized
the framing up of Tarlac’s Public-Private
Partnerships (PPPs) and the involvement of
each citizen as a stakeholder for progress.
The following were the awards and
recognitions given during the CLExAH 2014:
• Outstanding Provinces for Measles, Rubella
and  Oral Polio Vaccine Mass Immunization
• Outstanding Municipalities/Cities  for
Measles, Rubella and Oral Polio Vaccine Mass
Immunization
• Outstanding Newborn Screening Facilities in
Central Luzon
• High Achievers Award for the Newborn
Screening Program 2014
• Certificate of Recognition as Preceptor Sites
for the Training of Newborn Screening
• Red Orchid Awards “Hall of Famer”
• Best Advocates for Tobacco Control Program
• Outstanding Healthy Lifestyle Advocates
Awardee
• Most Supportive LGUs for the Welfare of
Persons with Disability
• Best Advocates for Mental Health Program
• Best Advocates for Primary Eye Care Program
• Finalists in the Regional Search for Barangay
with Best Sanitation Practices
• Best Environmental and Occupational Health
related initiative by LGU-Health Offices
• Winners of the Regional Search for Barangay
• Pulang Laso Excellence Award for HIV
Program Implementation
www.doh.gov.ph
Bulacan Provincial Administrator Mr. Eugenio C.
Payongayong and the team of Bulacan Provincial Health
Office spearheaded by Dr. Jocelyn E. Gomez receiving the
Plaque of Recognition from the DOH-RO III for being one of
the Outstanding Provinces for Measles, Rubella, and Oral
Polio Vaccine Mass Immunization.
• Certificate of Recognition for HIV
Program Implementation
• National Tuberculosis Control
Program Achievement Award
• Rabies Prevention and Control
Program Excellence Award for
Program Implementation
• Zero Malaria Case and Zero Malaria
Death
• Best Orally Fit Day Care Center
• Best Orally Fit Community
• Best Orally Fit Program Implementor
• Most Compliant Laboratory
• Most Active Media Partners on Health
• Active Partner on Health Information
Campaign
• Outstanding Doctor to the Barrio
• Best Provincial Epidemiology and
Surveillance Unit
• Best Disease Reporting Unit
• Best Disease Reporting Unit in
Reporting Acute Flaccid Paralysis
• Certificate of Recognition for APEC
2015 Medical Teams
4
EDITORIAL
Graphic health
warnings on
cigarettes
DESPITE ALL reminders that
cigarette smoking has been
established to be harmful to one’s
healt h, it seemed it had no significant
impact in reducing the prevalence of
smoking in our country. Although media
advertising has already been banned
several years ago, the tobacco companies
remain creative enough to promote their
brands thru other activities.
There was clearly a big need for more
visually-oriented, more graphic warnings
about the harmful effects of smoking in the
various parts of the body.
In 2014, a new law requiring graphic
health warnings on cigarettes packages
took effect. The graphic health warning
is expected to dramatically reduce the
number of Filipino smokers, especially
among the youth.
A review by Sambrook Research
International in 2009 said that there’s clear
evidence that tobacco package health
warnings increases consumers’ knowledge
about health consequences of tobacco use.
It also contributes to changing consumers’
attitudes towards tobacco use as well as
changing their behaviors.
Tobacco companies were given a year
from issuance of the necessary templates
to comply and an additional eight months
to sell all cigarettes packs without graphic
health warnings.
Studies have shown this move can
effectively discourage young people
from getting into smoking.
In the Philippines, at least 240 Filipinos
die every day, or approximately 87,000
per year from tobacco-related diseases.
As young as 10 year-old children can
Illustration by Donna Pahignalo
Va
Office of the Secretary
Dr. Lyndon Lee-Suy
Elizabeth Mascareñas
May Elenor de Guzman
Donato Dennis B. Magat
Health Promotion and Communication
Service-Media External Relations Divi-
sion
(HPCS-MERD)
Dr. Ivanhoe C. Escartin
Rosemarie G. Aguirre
Edna V. Nito
Evelyn B. Perez
be seen buying cigarettes from their Aurora D. Banda-Alfonso
community sari-sari store either for
another member of the family (for their FAME INC., TEAM
parents) or for themselves. Editor
Mylene C. Orillo
In 2011 Global Youth Tobacco Survey
in the Philippines, a school-based survey
Art Director
Donna I. Pahignalo
designed to enhance the capacity of Editorial Coordinator
countries to monitor tobacco use among Gelyka Ruth R. Dumaraos
youth and to guide the implementation Graphic Artist
Ramir Cambiado
and evaluation of tobacco prevention and Dani Cisneros
control program, 13.7 percent of students Group Sales Manager
ages 13-15 currently use any form of Maria Elna P. Jagape
tobacco; 8.9 percent of students currently Account Managers
Charlotte Punzalan, Noel Ongkingco
smoke cigarettes; and 7.3 percent Circulation Head
currently use some other form of tobacco. Armando Sandajan
More than two in five students live in
homes where others smoke, and close FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES
to three in five students are exposed ONLY. NOT FOR SALE
Opinions expressed in this publication
to smoke around others outside of the do not necessarily represent those of the
home; half of the students have one or DOH. The mention of specific companies
more parents who smoke and 9.5 percent or of certain manufacturer’s products
of students have friends who smoke. does not imply that they are endorsed or
Eight in 10 students think smoke from recommended by the DOH in preference
others is harmful to them. More than nine to others of similar nature. Articles may
in 10 students think smoking in public be reproduced in full or in part without
prior permission, provided credit is given
places should be banned. Close to nine in to the DOH for original pieces. A copy
10 current smokers want to stop smoking. of the reprinted or adapted version
We are confident that through the will be appreciated. Articles, artworks,
release of graphic health warning photographs, caricatures, letters and
guidelines and templates, we will be other contributions are most welcome.
able to inform every person of the health Materials will be edited for clarity
and space. Unsolicited manuscripts
consequences of tobacco consumption will be returned. Contributors must
and exposure to tobacco smoke. indicate their names and addresses.
Let’s continue instilling health
consciousness among Filipinos and We would like to hear from you!
save our youth from long-term health
problems. E-mail us your feedback at
DOHFiles@gmail.com
 www.doh.gov.ph

Vaccine quality training course for inspectors

Korea meeting aims to strengthen, expand and
maintain vaccine quality related practices
AN ANNUAL training course on vaccine
inspection and safety at national level
was attended by representatives from the
Philippines which was held at Cheongju,
Korea last September 16-24 2014.
  Global Learning Opportunities for
Vaccine Quality (GLO/VQ), a participatory
component of WHO support for National
Regulatory Authorities (NRA) in
cooperation with Ministry of Food and
Drug Safety (MFDS) and Korea Human
Resource Development Institute for UNITED FOR VACCINE SAFETY Participants from Iran, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, Tanzania and Thailand wearing the
Health and Welfare (KOHI), in their work traditional Korean “hanbok” with Dr. Chung Keel Lee and KOHI officials
to ensure the safety of vaccines at national
level has just recently concluded the 2014
GMP Training Course on GMP Inspection..
 KOHI is an affiliate agency of the Ministry
of Health and Welfare which provides
education and training for international
and domestic public officials and personnel
in the health and welfare sectors. This was
participated by Regulatory Officers from
Iran, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea,
Tanzania and Thailand.
 The 7-day program consisted of lectures
on the main concepts of GMP in vaccine
production which was held at the KOHI
Building. To cap the course, participants
were taken on an on-site visit to a vaccine
manufacturing facility located at the
province of Andong.
 The lectures were mostly facilitated by Dr The Philippine delegates with Dr. Chung Keel Lee (from left: Pia Rose A. Belarmino, Ma. Luisa L. De Sagun, Angeli B. Casala)
Chung Keel Lee who currently functions as   Progress towards achieving the mission feedback. The concept of knowledge
the Special Advisor to the Commissioner of enhancing practices related to vaccine being situated comes from contemporary
of Korea Food and Drug Administration. quality around the world is supported by conceptions of cognition and learning
He is a member of WHOs Expert Review GLO/VQ through the course development that indicate that meaningful learning
Committee since 1996, and has served initiatives dedicated to enhancing only occurs when it is embedded in
as a Course Director, Consultant, and the professional knowledge and skills the social and physical context within
Advisor to the organization for over 15 of NRA staff and other professionals which it will be used. In addition to
years in the areas of vaccine research and through a series of innovative learning formal courses, learning opportunities
development, production, and regulation. opportunities. GLO/VQ learning specialists continue through the establishment of
u!
  The overall objective of GLO/VQ is to provide support to learners to develop learning communities focused on specific
strengthen, expand and maintain vaccine “situated” knowledge, skills, and attitudes professional practices.
quality related practices within NRA in through modeling, hands-on activities
om developing and middle income countries. and extensive practice with substantive
 6

Care for the displaced in Mamasapano

DOH-ARMM holds post-conflict medical, psychological intervention to non-combatants

THE DOH in the Autonomous Region in

Muslim Mindanao (DOH-ARMM) has started THE P
conducting stress debriefing and counseling for launc
internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Barangay desig
Tukanalipao where government forces and partic
Moro rebels clashed on January 25.  Du
  The Mamasapano encounter which benefi
left elite police, Moro rebels, civilians and 1 and
Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir dead has  “Ts
emotional effect on non-combatants, Dr. Kadil mem
Sinolinding, DOH-ARMM Health Secretary said, PhilH
“Farmers and villagers here have experienced  Inc
trauma and need medical and psychological that
intervention.” acute
 Sec. Sinolinding said his office has conducted urinar
a medical mission aimed at giving displaced dewo
families medicine as prevention for diseases  Als
common in evacuation centers. consu
“They need counseling and psycho-social clinica
intervention because of their traumatic exam
experience of running away from a day-long MAMASAPANO AFTERMATH DOH-ARMM Secretary Dr. Kadil M. Sinolinding, Jr. MD. DPBO, led a medical mission in
for sm
fire fight,” Sec. Sinolinding added. the Barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano where government forces and Moro rebels clashed, held on February 05, 2015,
and p
Mamasapano, Maguindanao Province
 One of those showing signs of trauma was  “W
29-year-old Fahima Acmad who has four also a
young children and a resident of Barangay blood
Tukanalipao. WHAT’S UP, sputu
electr
 “I have difficulty sleeping at night, I have
not experienced a full night sleep since the
conflict,” she said in Filipino. “I fear the police
DOH? gluco
added
will return and engage the rebels in war again,” Follow/Like the DOH official pages Ind
she added. and be in the know for the latest public
  She said her 74-year-old father chilled health updates provid
during the day-long fighting in Tukanalipao. which
“He is hypertensive, he showed signs  that his the el
/OfficialDOHgov
blood pressure shot up during the fire fight,”  Th
she added. facilit
 Acmad recalled that she was awakened by a @OfficialDOHgov  “To
series of gun bursts at about 5 a.m. of January and p
25. “The gun fire appeared to be near our home indica
so we hurriedly left with only our clothes on,” www.doh.gov.ph
famili
she recalled.“It was a very traumatic experience Join the Outstanding Healthy accred
for many here,”Sec. Sinolinding said. +63 2-651-7800 drugs
  Displaced families have started to return Lifestyle Advocacy Awards. For  Am
home but according to Acmad, life will never medic
be the same again because she is now afraid to San Lazaro Compound,
Rizal Ave., Manila
more information, please visit IT sys
walk by the corn field and beside the river where
the rebels and the policemen had fought. www.doh.gov.ph  To
famili

PhilHealth’s ‘Tsekap’
s Primary care package covers for drugs, labs
for 10 common conditions
THE PHILIPPINE Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) recently
launched an expanded promotive, preventive and diagnostic package
designed to improve financial risk protection for its members,
particularly the less privileged.
 Dubbed “Tamang Serbisyo sa Kalusugan ng Pamilya” (Tsekap), the
benefit package is an expansion of the Primary Care Benefit Packages
1 and 2 that were implemented in 2012 and 2014, respectively.
 “Tsekap shall be initially rolled out to the indigent and sponsored
members, but eventually it will be offered to all other sectors,” said
PhilHealth President and CEO Atty. Alexander A. Padilla.
 Included in the Tsekap are medicines for 10 common conditions
that can be managed at a primary care set up such as asthma,
acute gastroenteritis, upper respiratory tract infection, pneumonia,
urinary tract infection, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia,
deworming, and ischemic heart disease.
 Also available are comprehensive health profiling upon enlistment,
consultations,regular blood pressure and body measurement, periodic
clinical breast examination, cervical cancer screening, digital rectal
examination, risk profiling for hypertension and diabetes, counseling
for smoking cessation and lifestyle modification and oral check-up
and prophylaxis for children 12 years old and below.
 “When clinically necessary, sponsored and indigent members can
also avail themselves of diagnostic examinations such as complete
blood count, blood typing, urinalysis, stool exam, chest X-ray,
sputum microscopy, lipid profile, fasting blood sugar, creatinine,
electrocardiogram, peak expiratory flow meter testing and blood
glucose monitoring through blood glucose meters,”  Atty. Padilla
added.
Indigent and sponsored members may choose either a private or
public Tsekap provider that is most accessible to them. The chosen
provider shall enlist the family and make the individual health profiling,
which is an essential component, to ensure that the health status of
the eligible PhilHealth beneficiary is established and monitored.
 The No Balance Billing shall also apply both in private and public
facilities where the Tsekap services are provided.
 “To help deliver the Tsekap services, we are tapping government
and private health care facilities that can assure us that the range of
indicated benefits in the package can be made available to enlisted
families. At the same time, we have set the standards for the
accreditation of drug outlets that can participate in the provision of
drugs and medicines under the Tsekap package,” Atty. Padilla said.
 Among Tsekap’s unique properties is the use of the EMR or electronic
medical records that will be generated by the provider-facilities whose
IT systems should be in sync with PhilHealth.  6 municipalities), Apayao  and Benguet, and Baguio City with
 To date, there are 15,068,028 Indigent and Sponsored Program
families enrolled in PhilHealth.  partners (USAID), NGOs, Media and Regional Line Agencies.
www.doh.gov.ph
from Page 8
Moreover, 51.9 million pesos worth of equipment was released for
the 16 hospitals in the region, 6.3 million pesos for the 10 RHUs and
15.2 million pesos for the BHSs.
In 2015, the Department of Health has programmed to disburse
of 112 million pesos for the 4 hospitals, 2 million for 1 RHU and 18.4
million pesos for the 20 BHSs as infrastructure support.  The DOH
will also drove equipment support to 1 hospital amounting to 1.1
million pesos, 0.64 million pesos for 1 RHU and 7.75 million pesos
for the 19 BHSs.
On personnel augmentation, DOH deployed a total of 11 doctors
through the Doctors-to-the Barrio Program and 10 of these were
sent to the non-project sites in Abra. DOH-CAR also deployed 92
nurses in all the 6 provinces through the Nurses Deployment
Program and 125 midwives through Rural Health Midwife
Placement Program.  Implementation of the program is continued
up to 2015.
Director Lopez also noted that DOH-CAR certified 15 hospitals
from the non-project sites, 30 RHUs and 18 BHSs for BEmONC.
This implies that these facilities have met the required standard
for both facility and personnel skills of the Department of Health
on operating birthing facilities and complied the requirement of
PhilHealth for the Maternity Care Package. These were processed
using the Regional Standard Operating Procedure on Certification
of Facilities as BEmONC Capable.
Most of the facilities in Ifugao, Kalinga and Mt. Province are
part of the HFEP projects in 2013-2014 and are currently ongoing
construction. They will be assessed for the certification once
the facilities are completely constructed.  There will, however
be a continuing assessment of the birthing facilities in 2015 for
both initial and renewal certification to make sure the quality of
delivering birthing services.
Aside from project highlights and HFEP updates, Dr. Makoto Tobe,
the project Chief Advisor, JICA-SSC also presented a suggested
measurement of facility-based delivery rate reflecting actual status
at municipal level.
A press conference was also held and Asec. Bayugo said that
DOH noted Pope Francis’ call for support on the increasing number
of family members in the Philippines and he noted the significant
improvement of Maternal Mortality Rate in the country. Director
Lopez discussed the implementation of HFEP projects in the Cordillera.
The Department of Health  supports facility based delivery by quality
service and construction of health facilities under HFEP. 
Dr. Amelita Pangilinan informed the public about the importance
of facility based delivery and suggested that harmful cultural
practice of cutting the umbilical cord of a newly born child using
bamboos should be avoided as it could result to tetatus infection.
Dr. Pangilinan also noted that home deliveries in Cordillera is at
20% while facility based delivery is at 80% of the total population.
Spearheaded by DOH-CAR AND JICA-SSC and attended to by 
stakeholders of the project sites, from the provinces of Abra(with
partners from DOH Central Office and Regional Offices, development
Strengthening local health
system in Cordillera
Increase in MD personnel, barangay health stations,
facility-based delivery rate noted
DOH Assistant Secretary Gerardo V. Bayugo giving the keynote message during the forum
A NATIONAL dissemination forum was held
to discuss the Cordillera-wide Strengthening
of the Local Health System for Effective and
Efficient Delivery of Maternal and Child
Health Services, on January 21-23 at Crown
Legacy Hotel, Baguio City.
Present in the forum were  DOH Assistant
Secretary Gerardo Bayugo as the keynote
speaker in lieu of Acting Secretary Janette
Loreto-Garin; ARMM Health Secretary
Sinolinding,  Stakeholders from Cordillera
led by Governors Hon. Elias C. Bulut Jr.  of
Apayao, Hon. Eustaquio Bersamin of Abra,
and Vice Governor Hon.  Nelson Dangwa of
Benguet.
The forum started with a welcome program
and mini-cultural show with key messages
from Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan,
DOH-CAR Director Valeriano Lopez and Mr.
Noriaki Niwa, Chief Representative of JICA
Philippine Office.  birthing facilities in the rural areas;
Dr. Amelita M. Pangilinan, OIC Director III
of DOH-CAR presented the project highlights
and said that in terms of Facility-based
delivery (FBD),  CAR is still far behind the
national target of 90 percent, aimed to be
achieved by 2016.
It can be noted that CAR is only 68
percent in 2010 but with an increasing
trend.  In 2011 there was already 73 percent
achievement in terms of FBD, in 2012, 78
percent and in 2013 – 84 percent.
It is along this line that the Project for the
Cordillera-Wide Strengthening of the Local
Health System for Effective and Efficient
Delivery of Maternal and Child Health
Services was born.
The general objective of the project is
health systems strengthening for Maternal,
Neonatal and Child Health and Nutrition
(MNCHN) while the specific objective is
Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) reduction
thru increasing facility-based delivery,
especially in rural areas of CAR. Project
period is from February  2012  to February
2017.
Project strategies are upgrading of
increasing the coverage of National Health
Insurance Program (NHIP); empowering
the Community Health Teams; improving
patient referral system thru inter-
LGU collaboration and ensuring the
sustainability of quality health services.
Impact of the project showed an increase
in Barangay Health Station (BHS) delivery
in mountainous remote areas in Apayao;
in Calanasan, there was an increase to 20
percent while in Kabugao and Conner, there
was an increase to 10 percent  from 2012
to 2013. It also showed an improved Rural
Health Unit (RHU) delivery in rural areas with
flat terrain in Abra: in Lagangilang there was
a 40 percent increase while Dolores and
Villaviciosa the increase was almost at 20
percent from 2012 to 2013.
Facility-Based Delivery Rate from 2012 to
2013 also increased. In flat terrain of Abra,
from 73 percent in 2012, increased to 86
percent in 2013 in RHU deliveries, in Apayao,
from 67 percent increased to 80 percent for
hospital and BHS deliveries while Benguet
from 83 percent increased to 87 percent.
The Project sites totaled an increase from 79
percent to 86 percent.
Also through the Health Facility
Enhancement Program (HFEP), LGU and
development partners including JICA and
USAID, 14 primary hospitals, 19 Rural Health
Units, and 61 Barangay Health Stations were
upgraded and provided with equipment.
To ensure that quality basic services are
provided, DOH-CAR also trained more than
300 doctors, nurses and midwives on basic
emergency obstetric and newborn care
(BEmONC).
With the Community Health Teams as the
link/bridging partners in the community,
DOH-CAR along with its development
partners such as JICA was able to provide
IEC flipcharts and conducted a series of
conventions to enable or equip the CHTs
with the capacity, skills and knowledge,
specifically in ensuring that pregnant
women have emergency birth plans and
that they will complete at least 4 prenatal
check-up in the health facility including post
partum care.
Presenting in the forum, Director Lopez
discussed  the HFEP and said that DOH had
disbursed a total of 56.2 million pesos for
the 12 hospitals in all the 6 provinces of the
region in 2014 as infrastructure support,
8.4 Million pesos for 8 Rural Health Units
and 50.4 million pesos for the 51 barangay
health stations.
There will be close monitoring of the
implementation of DOH-HFEP to ensure that 
implementation will be done as scheduled.
continued to Page 7